In 1990, faculty and staff at MU Extension’s Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) identified a lack of training for animal cruelty investigators and founded the National Animal Cruelty Investigations (NACI) School—the first of its kind—to offer a combination of specialized veterinary and law enforcement training. Your gift will help ensure that our nationally recognized law enforcement, veterinary and animal health experts continue to educate students on all aspects of animal welfare and safety.

The University of Missouri has trained firefighters for more than 80 years. Through the Fire and Rescue Training Institute (FRTI), a premier unit of MU Extension, quality and accessible competency-based training is provided to Missouri’s fire service and emergency response personnel. Your gift will help ensure FRTI continues to meet the education and training needs of Missouri’s volunteer firefighters.

The Missouri Extension Disaster Education Network (Missouri EDEN) provides education and technical assistance to individuals and families, local governments, schools, and organizations in preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters. Gifts to this fund help the Missouri EDEN team respond to emergencies when the occur and help local communities deal with all aspects of disasters.

The Missouri SBDC exists to help business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs understand and overcome obstacles at all stages of their business's lifecycle. It serves as support through quality personalized assistance that goes beyond one conversation. The SBDC offers an ongoing relationship to help get the information needed for owners to make confident decisions and help their business succeed. Your donation supports professional, high-quality services, helps to reach new clients, and provide resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and existing business owners throughout the state.

Located near Rock Port at the toe slope of the loess hills, the mission of the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center is to provide research and teaching in the specific soil and climatic conditions of extreme northwest Missouri. This occurs through research and demonstrations of conservation tillage and soil conservation management practices, turf and forage, and crop production practices. Soil conservation and water quality issues also are addressed.

Demonstrations and research at the 375-acre Hundley-Whaley Research Center are made possible through the generosity of Elma Hundley and Lulu Whaley. Located in Gentry County, the research center focuses on the best management practices and economics for corn and soybeans, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture. It is noted for excellence in pesticide evaluations and comparisons.

Jefferson Farm and Garden is a 67-acre educational farm designed to engage the community in experiences about food and agriculture. As an outdoor classroom, Jefferson Farm and Garden aims to reach learners of all ages by connecting people to the land and enriching the community through workshops, field trips and special events.

Nestled along the Meramec River near Cook Station in the northeast Ozarks, the Wurdack Extenion and Education Center conducts demonstrations and research in integrated livestock, forages, forestry, agroforestry and wildlife management practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound and sociologically acceptable for the Ozark Region of Missouri. Current research includes programs to improve forage, beef, agroforestry, and timber.